The large explosive eruption of Mount Pinatubo on 15 June 1991 expelled 3-5 km 3 of dacite magma and injected about 17 million tonnes of SO2 into the stratosphere. The sulfur aerosols resulted in a 0.5-0.6°C cooling of the Earth's surface in the Northern Hemisphere.

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The earth doesn't treat us in any way at all. It's a lump of rock. It gives special consideration to no one.

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Not even to you or me? Or sciforums? My goodness.

Species come, species go. The earth continues in its orbit completely unaware.

The difference is not in how the earth treats us, it's how we treat each other. That a human should value human life above all other really should go without saying. But, apparently, what is blindingly obvious to a two year isn't obvious to you.

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A human should value human life, as in their own life and other humans' lives?
How much, or compared to what?

The planet doesn't value us or any other animals. Animals define their own value, in both senses of the word, so what's your value for human animal dominance, survival, or loss of somewhere to live? What does "value" have to do with any of those things?

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The political side of things remains: given the probabilities and possibilities, what is the sensible response ?

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There was a thread recently that quoted a cost of $45 trillion to make a dent in global warming. Do you honestly believe we can afford $45 trillion? Really?

We can't afford to address global warming in a significant way. Half measures will serve only to impoverish us and limit our ability to respond to any climate changes that do occur.

Oil supplies are running low anyway. We will ultimately develop alternative energy sources and, with $4 a gallon gas (with no sign of an end to the price increases), we will have a huge motivation to develop them.

Even within my home state of Indiana, they've recently built a huge windfarm:

In a situation in which a major factor is the rate of change - not just the change itself - even modest and ordinary measures undertaken in good time could have great benefits.

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Those measures will be undertaken without any government agencies holding meetings or imposing regulations. Carbon based energy is getting more expensive. This in and of itself will motivate the development of technologies to replace it.

Government mandates regarding carbon output will serve only to slow economic growth and delay the development of those technologies.

So we are definitely back in the dark ages with yet another variation of armageddon, the infamous tipping point based on a completely false scientific perception.

It's completely unimportant that the enhanced greenhouse effect is completely falsified, both in theory and by factual observations. We can't do without the scaremongering So scaremongering we get, no matter what.

"Tipping Point", the Fear Factory is at it again. Next thing is "Stampeding", "Lemmings". Loon Hansen now wants to put the Oil Bosses on trial, back to the dark medieval ages, witch hunt, stakes. A good thing them days; no fuel burning, less C02, nice cold weather, everybody happy, aight?

I happen to believe that ideas have consequences. When someone goes around constantly preaching about how the world would be better off without humans, someone, somewhere just might take them seriously.

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Point taken..
I just can't take it when people start yelling that some animal population has run rampant (the kangaroos for example) and they need to be culled to save the local environment.
What people seem to miss is that there is a direct parallel with humans. The human species also has run rampant and is destroyed the environment because of their sheer numbers, just like the kangaroos.

But, apparently, what is blindingly obvious to a two year isn't obvious to you.

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So by your own admission it's a sentiment that small kids, that haven't fully developed their brain yet, enjoy ?
Awesome argument.
Humans (adults) have the brain power to see beyond the perspective of a two year old.